The sebacous glands secrete an oily substance, sebum, which acts as an
antibacterial agent and, in hairly mammals, as a waterproofing agent.
Usually, the sebaceous glands are associated with ahir follicles and
empty their secretion into the pilosebaceous canal of the follicle. The
secretory droplets in the cells contain lipid which is extracted in
tissue processing, thus giving the cells a vacuolated appearance. The
cells secrete by the holocrine mode in which the cell disintegrates,
releasing the product into the duct. In this micrograph you can see
some of the disintegrated cells (a few still with pyknotic nuclei). The
mass of secretory cells is enclosed by a single layer of low cuboidal
cells sitting on a basal lamina. Original mag. 50x. H&E Sebaceous
glands. Skin appendages. Integument System. Dog.